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Put the 401 to work this weekend. My wife laughs everytime I use the little tractor. Guess size does matter? Maybe it's my size at 6"4" and 290 on the little toy that she finds funny? Or the smile on my face each time I drive this thing that she giggles at?

I know I had a thread a couple of days that showed how to change out front wheel bearings. The pics of the side wall of those 30yr. old tire was not lost on me. It has been my intension to upgrade the rubber on the "old girl' as soon as possible. With a lot of my transactions I go back to the dealer that sold me my . (circa 1986) When I needed that front bearing, they were the cheapest. If you haven't guessed, I'm stuck out here on the thumb of our nation and I don't have a lot of options as some of you guys do. I scored a couple of mounted rims from the dealer's bone yard in the size I wanted to upgrade to. 16x6.50-8'' The rubber was still good and one rim even had a good tube in it. I broke down the rubber and started cleaning up the rims for reassembly. The bearings got knocked out and all the old grease was cleaned out and the bearings got repacked with hard grease. With a fair amount of elbow grease the rims were refurbished. The rubber was second hand & only 2 ply, so I took the option of adding tubes. I found that a liberal coat of Vaseline on the bead of each tire helps with mounting since I don't have anything to hold them in place. A large screwdriver and a tire iron from HF did the trick in dismounting and mounting. Cleaned up, the tires were ready for mounting on the tractor. The new tires certainly add to the looks of my 'old girl'. This is a cold and rainy & snowy afternoon. In spite of the crappy weather, I thought a pic on the hill was in order. Next to come, newer rims and some 23x9.50-12'' on the back plus tubes because I love the loaded tires I have now. And without wheel weights, I get to look for baby moons. PS. I did have to buy three rims from the dealer to make two workable mounts. Did anybody see that one of those rims was white, It didn't match with the newer style silver rims that I needed for my 86'. If anybody wants a sound white rim for a 16x6.58-8 tire, I have one. The bearings have already been knocked out and cleaned and hand repacked. Believe me I know how to clean and repack a bearing. Uncle Sam taught me how in Amarillro, TX. 1967. Things like that you don't forget. Am I right, fellas???

As I was going through the local junk yard for some parts to convert my 520H to have foot pedals last week, I came across this little stallion that needs someone to rescue him. A 653? I don't know these machines too well but it did shift through all the gears and the deck seemed pretty solid. Seems like someone can save this from the crusher....

I have the heavy duty lift link in all of my 520's and this pin always seems to be worn. You can buy them new from Toro but I am cheap so I made my own. I can't duplicate the e-clip so I simply drill a hole and use a hairpin clip to secure it. Actually works better because now removing this lift bar is tool free. This is the original pin worn on the ends and a loose sloppy fit. This is the new pin and the plans to make your own. I used Stainless steel because that is what I had. Wheel horse heavy duty lift bar pin dimensions.pdf

We would all like to see that...

I'm ready.

@GlenPettit ...what ever happened to these?

The most experience I have with Ag tires are the ones on my son's 67 Lawn Ranger. I KNOW, Its not a real work machine, but he's rode on them for hours at different shows, rode on them all day last fall at a local plowing event here in Minnesota and even got it stuck...and last spring he literally put a few miles on them riding on the neighborhood sidewalks.. Still look like new with those "Nubbies" still attatched. Not arguing, just saying

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a20127/how-a-carburetor-works/?mag=pop&list=nl_pnl_news&src=nl&date=032816

you'll figure it out . Don't beat head your into a wall or get your panties in a bunch . I didn't know much about computers either . When you need help send an . Where all here to help . I use a iPad didn't know one thing about it now it's as easy as. Everyone here likes to have fun and talk . Now I'm addicted and it seems to be highly contagious . It's all I think about from till . Become a supporter it's quick and painless and keeps this forum up and running . ( not to mention the posting pictures thing ) And there's one thing here ! Rules ! .

I'd agree tires are not made like they use to be and agree that ags don't wear real well, but I have to wonder what kind of base they're being driven on if they wear down real fast? After all, ags are designed to be run in the dirt. I'd think if they didn't see pavement or concrete, they'd wear pretty good? Soft rubber helps with traction, and traction/digging is what ags are for. Just guessing here, as I'm running turfs and ATV tires on my workers. The winter chain thing is a whole nother discussion. More about surface contact than rubber hardness I believe. Just like shoes, all tires have a purpose. Just like there is no perfect shoe for every use, there is also no perfect tire for all uses. Ags Turf ATV Smooth Ribbed Diamond Even variations within each of the above. They all have a different purpose. Now just think if like shoes, you had a closet full of tires, and needed to change those tires each time you used your tractor. Gonna till the garden today...put on the ags. Gonna mow today...put on the turfs. Gonna go for a trail ride today...put on the ATV tires. Gonna head down to the asphalt races today...put on the slicks. Gonna lounge around the garage today...

Must be something about those 401's wanting to work!! Your ags are going on the back Red if things don't pan out with @rj35hunter!!!! This gal is going to be my next project tractor...A complete go thru & paint. BTW my boy is a senior in HS & 6'2, 235lbs

i do not know how to even post the right way.This message came via email,that is why i did not see it until now.It looks good runs great,i changed the oil and rear end oil,i think it will be a good machine.I would like to maybe restore it a little at a time.I will need help from you guys,i do not know how to get it up to get under it,i guess put it up on some ramps,but i just need a hobby and i think this will work.I do not know if you saw my earlier post it would not go in gear when i pushed in the brake the gears just kept spinning,so i did not know what to do so i tightened the band and nothing but when i loosened it it went right in.Another guy on here said in 50 years he never heard of such a thing,so i went out tightened the band and it did the same thing,when i loosened it it worked i have not figured it out,i did it 3 more times and same thing.I mean it is fine now but i cant let it go until i figure it out.Thank you so much for your response.Maybe you can help me with how to post on this site?i am not a big computer guy,surprise.Thanks again

Nice trailer Matt. SnowCo trailers are kind of hard to come by. Seems most people who have them nowadays are collectors who don't want to let them go. Definitely different duty grades of trailer too depending on whether it's a snowmobile trailer or a garden tractor trailer. This one lived here for several years. I never got around to restoring it and sold it to another collector back in 2014. Built by SnowCo, but badged as Wheel Horse. This is the two place Snowmobile trailer (Wheel Horse model 9-0511 and SnowCo model 863) To date this is still the only two place Wheel Horse snowmobile trailer that has been found that I know of, and I spent several years looking for it before dumb luck brought it my way. I used it for several years to haul a tractor or two to some local shows.

I don't think that trailer could overload that tractor. That little 4HP Kohler has plenty of power and then some. I once had a green tractor with a 18HP Kaw engine in it and this suburban would out pull that green tractor any day. It really amazes me what these little horse will do. I kind of wonder if the newer high HP tractors aren't rated differently than the old iron to make them look better???? (Kind of like the government unemployment rates) I mean this tractor has only a 4Hp Kohler and my other current Horses are 8HP, but they all have more grunt than that green 18HP that I owned. I had to look Clint up. That's one big guy! 6'6" and huge! Just wish my weight was in the same place as his. I probably resemble Clint riding a pony! No free rides in my house!

Good to see... it's still earning it's keep.

Well if you overload the trailer you can always Flintstone it across the yard! Tractor looks great, I see nothing wrong with the picture!

Finished sweeping the driveway out of the lawn and back into the driveway and also gave the town back all that they plowed into my yard (and my neighbors) during the winter. Sure beats raking. Probably less than an hour of actual running...but project takes several days waiting for the wind to be blowing in the right direction. A facefull of dirt grass and pebbles is not fun!! As I have mention I am not a big fan of Electric PTOs and I know they are used in auto A/C units etc but when I flip the switch I cringe this thing is a lot bigger than the PTO and has a lot of mass to get moving. She will get cleaned up new gas and stabil and back to the storage shed till next spring. (This is one implement you do not want to have to take off and put on.)

Isn't nature amazing, given a little bit encouragement and time it can heal up most things, even behind us humans.

Ever hear of, or try this stuff? Available at your local Napa dealer. It's that green stuff you see installers swabbing down tire beads with, before mounting tires on the rim. Also works great, when put it into a spray bottle, occasionally spray down all your rubber, really helps ward off the dry rot too.

Weather cracked when I bought them used it's not a show rig it's a work horse...so let's go the orginal post about wasting money on AG tires...so for $50/pr and 8-9 yrs later of my use and they're still holding air and 5 gallons of fluid and rolling my tractor around...there was no waste of money...and it's not my vehicle driving up and down the interstate @ 70 mph + everyday...why worry over weather cracking they make tubes if needed for my 4-7 mph jaunts up the driveway garden and yard...and when the wife's high $ Michelin tires weather cracked after 2 years let's talk about a waste of money...Jeff

I bet the push mower and blower each bring $75, if the pile of tires has 6",8" and 12" and goes real cheap you could bring them to the big show and corner the market on used tires.

Go get you some fart in a can clear the place out , might get them super cheap .

Next step is to separate the pulley from the hub. I have both 1" and 1-1/8" PTOs The only difference is the hub. They use the same bearings Field coil and Clutch plate. EDIT:: First you have to remove the two snap rings inner and outer. See last picture I forgot this step. Inner is an eaton and needs the special pliers or 4 letter words and some luck. The outer one you can pry in and off with a screw driver. END EDIT This time thread the pusher bolt in from the back of the unit. Again make sure to fully engage the threads. Again slam the unit down on the anvil until the pulleys drop down (some Kroil PB blaster Between the inner race and the hub may help Picture 1. Picture 2 shows them apart. You can now press out the bearings if you are replacing them. The small bearing in the field coil is readily available for about $8. 6204 is bearing size you want one sealed on both sides. On one of my units they staked it in so it will come out hard. I used hydraulic press. I guess you could use a hammer and appropriate arbor but I would be afraid of damaging the field coil. Picture 3 shows the old and new bearing. I inserted new bearing with a hand press. After break we will remove the big bearing which may or may not still be available (I should know in a couple of days). In any event you could always clean and repack the original after you get it out.

The best welcome ever.

For me it's ags all the way, wear isn't an issue because I'm on grass or garden, on the garden there's no comparison and on the lawn, mowing and towing a 42" sweeper wide ags just don't slip. Chains for snow/ice different topic. Just my opinion.

I have had these AG bar type tires on my 520H for approximately 8-9 yrs now and I bought them used on top of that...they spring till the garden, did 1/4 mile long dirt/gravel driveway repairs, mowing all summer and winter snow removal (the 1/4 mile dirt driveway) and now the asphalt drive here and dragging felled trees for firewood...still about the same as when I bought them...and they aren't Carlisle either,Jeff.

Hey all, thanks for the concern. After two days of persuasion from the family I went to the Docs today an got checked out. All good, I do have a bit of concussion but all my signs or good, ribs look to be just badly bruised. Plenty of rest and I should be as good as new, or as good as I was. No reply from the helmet manufacturer, maybe they get to many??

Ed is right, have your wife get a photo, Probably a great calendar shot.

3-29-1973 U.S. withdraws from Vietnam Two months after the signing of the Vietnam peace agreement, the last U.S. combat troops leave South Vietnam as Hanoi frees the remaining American prisoners of war held in North Vietnam. America’s direct eight-year intervention in the Vietnam War was at an end. In Saigon, some 7,000 U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees remained behind to aid South Vietnam in conducting what looked to be a fierce and ongoing war with communist North Vietnam. In 1961, after two decades of indirect military aid, U.S. President John F. Kennedy sent the first large force of U.S. military personnel to Vietnam to bolster the ineffectual autocratic regime of South Vietnam against the communist North. Three years later, with the South Vietnamese government crumbling, President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered limited bombing raids on North Vietnam, and Congress authorized the use of U.S. troops. By 1965, North Vietnamese offensives left President Johnson with two choices: escalate U.S. involvement or withdraw. Johnson ordered the former, and troop levels soon jumped to more than 300,000 as U.S. air forces commenced the largest bombing campaign in history. During the next few years, the extended length of the war, the high number of U.S. casualties, and the exposure of U.S. involvement in war crimes, such as the massacre at My Lai, helped turn many in the United States against the Vietnam War. The communists’ Tet Offensive of 1968 crushed U.S. hopes of an imminent end to the conflict and galvanized U.S. opposition to the war. In response, Johnson announced in March 1968 that he would not seek reelection, citing what he perceived to be his responsibility in creating a perilous national division over Vietnam. He also authorized the beginning of peace talks. In the spring of 1969, as protests against the war escalated in the United States, U.S. troop strength in the war-torn country reached its peak at nearly 550,000 men. Richard Nixon, the new U.S. president, began U.S. troop withdrawal and “Vietnamization” of the war effort that year, but he intensified bombing. Large U.S. troop withdrawals continued in the early 1970s as President Nixon expanded air and ground operations into Cambodia and Laos in attempts to block enemy supply routes along Vietnam’s borders. This expansion of the war, which accomplished few positive results, led to new waves of protests in the United States and elsewhere. Finally, in January 1973, representatives of the United States, North and South Vietnam, and the Vietcong signed a peace agreement in Paris, ending the direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War. Its key provisions included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam, the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the release of prisoners of war, and the reunification of North and South Vietnam through peaceful means. The South Vietnamese government was to remain in place until new elections were held, and North Vietnamese forces in the South were not to advance further nor be reinforced. In reality, however, the agreement was little more than a face-saving gesture by the U.S. government. Even before the last American troops departed on March 29, the communists violated the cease-fire, and by early 1974 full-scale war had resumed. At the end of 1974, South Vietnamese authorities reported that 80,000 of their soldiers and civilians had been killed in fighting during the year, making it the most costly of the Vietnam War.

Boy it would be nice to live as close to the show as you do Ed. I'd go every year.

For a few years I've been on the hunt for a nice Snowco trailer. In CT they seem to be few and far between. I've looked at a handful all of which were more rotted than I wanted to get involved with. My patience and persistence finally paid off. I picked up this super solid model 954 yesterday. It's missing the original air dam but is otherwise complete. I was told that the rarest of the Snowcos were the Allis Chalmers version, which were yellow. Unfortunately, the ID tag on mine is missing, but based on the underneath it seems pretty clear that the original color was Allis yellow. Who else has a Snowco? Let's see some pics. Original brochure This was the only Craigslist pic and it was listed just as "Trailer". I immediately knew from the tongue that it was a Snowco. Pure luck.

Here are a couple pictures of the 1277 I acquired from a friend the other day. We were talking about various lawn and garden equipment and the subject of Wheel Horse tractors came up. I mentioned that I have always wanted one and he told me to come by his house he had one in the back yard I could have just to get it out of his way. Needless to say I jumped on the deal...even went as far as building a trailer just so I could haul her home. This is my first one and I plan to restore it over time, so please be patient with me and some potentially dumb questions.

Indeed gentlemen. I am updating from shop floor via IPhone. My my edit was intended to call off the hounds. I have been in electronics for almost 35 years. I should know better than assuming anything. Once I originally posted I started the process of troubleshooting issue without assumptions and like Sqonk indicated, it had to be short to ground. The only place that could happens was in the new lights themselves. Sorry for the firedrill. Just for the record, The oops was on the Quality Assurance folks at lamp factory.

thank you i am learning how to do this.I never did before.Can you tell me what is to much to pay for a 1973 8 horse 8 speed wheel horse in good condition,with extra frame wheels,and steering?Is 600 to much?

The bulbs are the load. If your blowing fuses you have a short to ground. Look for a wire with a cut in it rubbing on metal. Also check your bulbs. A filiment could be loose and shorted. Does the fuse blow with only the light switch in the on position? If not the lighter could be the problem also

Unless you're on a lawn. Then the wider footprint flotation tire is better. If you're in a field or garden, you would want a narrow ag with deep powerful lugs. If you're mowing a yard, you'd want a wider footprint and smaller lugs to not destroy the grass. You wouldn't take a 12 gauge with buckshot to hunt quail I hope? Tire design fits a need. Actually, big tractors do have options for thinner lugs as well as thicker lugs, different lug designs, and different variations in width. Usually proportional to the tractor size. Flotation ags look nothing like lug ags. Same thing for garden tractors. Purpose creates design. Each of us may have different needs. I'll use Green for the Dramatic Effect!

I might be a little high but I'm thinkin I am there bidding on the stuff that I really want and some bozo who's got his head up his keester and doesn't even know what he's bidding on keeps outbidding me and that's what it ends at and I did't get it anyway. Anybody hate auctions as much as me?? I'm liking ACman's idea...

Ive had bkt ag tires on my b-80 for a few years. Mine havent worn at all. I do some road riding also. they seem to have worked good for me.

The propagation energy is focused at the tip of the crack, so stop drilling redistributes that energy over a larger area. It could potentially keep propagating if the energy is high enough. I think there are formulas or guidance offered on how large a hole you need to keep a crack from continuing, but I wing it. I think the reason the crack started at a large hole to begin with was a separate force was acting on it, like a bolt or other connection applying side loading or torsion to the sheet metal.

All I can think of is back in the old TV days watching Clint Walker riding a horse.

Now that would qualify for membership on my "MAD MAX" team.

Don't go away, hang in there with us... we'll get you, and your up to speed here in no time.

Well if anyone near by wants to try to save it, it is located at Light Truck Parts in Kalamazoo, on Lake St. There is also an Electrac 145? there but missing batteries. If nothing more, it is a cool place to walk through and look at the old iron.

Well, he thought the tractor was coated in gold. So I will not proceed with it. Thanks again for the input!!